Patrick Swayze's cheetah trainer opens animal rehab centre in Tauranga

Heidi Moller ran a cheetah outreach programme in South Africa and now is starting a rehabilitation centre in Tauranga

A Tauranga women who used to raise cheetahs working with Hollywood stars such as Patrick Swayze, Charlize Theron and Lou Diamond Phillips is bringing her Dr Dolittle skills to the Bay to run an multimillion dollar animal rehab centre that will also rehabilitate humans through animal therapy under the supervision of a local psychologist.

Heidi Moller provided cheetahs for the movie King Solomon's Mines starring Patrick Swayze

Bethlehem woman Heidi Moller, who worked for nine years working with the world's fastest animal now wants to help Bay animals and has founded charitable trust High Hopes Haven with four other local trustees.

"The circle of life is a thing! The idea is that animals which have healed from traumatic experiences themselves are very in tune with the emotions of humans suffering from similar stress and anxiety.

Heidi Moller with her cat Whizz. Heidi is starting an animal rehab centre, High Hopes Haven, which will also provide therapy for people with mental illness.

"Animals have an incredible ability to sense human stresses and touch our souls and help heal wounds that one cannot see. It is amazing what the unconditional love of an animal can heal -especially one who has been in the same boat."

Moller said the aim is to not only alleviate pressure on the local SPCA, but also on mental health services as it will provide rehabilitation services to children and adults suffering from anxiety, post traumatic stress and other mental health issues.

High Hopes Haven will provide accommodation, veterinary service and care to abused, injured or abandoned animals in the Bay.

"Many of the animals will be looked after then rehomed, but some will be identified as 'ambassador' animals who will help in the animal therapy program."

Heidi Moller with her cat Whizz. Heidi is starting a rehabilitation centre called High Hopes Haven

As well as treating humans with anxiety, animal ambassadors may also be used to work with people who fear animals or who have other phobias.

Bay Holistic vet Lisa Schneider will provide veterinary services and local psychologist Wol Hansen will select clients to benefit from animal therapy, says Moller.

Other staff will be qualified in either animal husbandry or mental health.

The trustees are currently hunting for land on which to build the $10m centre which will include an operating theatre and medical facilities, stables, kennels, cattery, kitchens, exercise and training areas, an education centre to welcome school children, an
information centre, cafe and shop selling locally made animal crafts,

The centre will house horses, cats, dogs and other smaller animals and birds. Moller says she will limit the intake of animals to six of each species to ensure that all the animals get the full attention and training required to rehabilitate.

Moller, who has completed training in Animal Assistants Therapy is interested in developing this area more, not just in mental health but in diagnosis of physical illnesses like cancers,

"There are few places in New Zealand that do this but it is gaining acceptance internationally. I am even going to look at things like using Beagles to diagnose melanomas or other cancers."

As well as welcoming schools into High Hopes education centre, Moller will run a community outreach programme, taking ambassador animals into rest homes and hospitals.

From South Africa, Moller spent almost nine years working with the world's fastest animals at the renowned Cheetah Outreach centre, where car company Jaguar regularly made videos, and Moller trained the cheetahs who acted alongside Patrick Swayze in King Salomon's Mines. She also raised two cubs for Steve Irwin.

Charlize Theron visited Heidi's cheetah outreach centre in South Africa

With her focus now on helping New Zealand animals, Moller and the other trustees, which include local business people and a local doctor, are appealing to the public to help the trust source land,

"It needs to be a sizeable piece of land but not to far from the CBD. I have been looking for a while but would love to hear from anyone who has such land they would like to lease or even donate if it is something like a corner of a farm they don't use."

Moller said the trust will be seeking all the necessary council consents and comply with regulations set by the Ministry of Primary Industries and the Animal Welfare Act.

A Givealittle page has been set up to receive donations.

High Hopes Haven
Non-for-profit charitable trust managed by a board of five trustees

Mission is the rehabilitation of abused and abandoned animals through holistic approach

Ambassador animals will work in an animal therapy programme to work with people suffering mental health issues

Education centre and community outreach programme.

Information centre, cafe and shop selling unique local animal jewellery, paintings, cards and ornaments to raise funds